The Bear’s Den, December 3, 2019

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!

BEARRRSSSS

Chicago Bears Akiem Hicks rarin’ to go again after injury - Chicago Sun-Times - He’s expecting to play against the Packers on Dec. 15. “If I can get my body to where I feel like I can compete at a high level, there’s nothing that would stop me from being on the field with my boys.”

Chicago Bears’ advice for stopping Ezekiel Elliott? ‘Wrap up and hang on’ - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears’ 97.5 rushing yards allowed per game are the eighth-fewest in the league. On Thursday, though, the defense will face its toughest test since the Vikings in Week 4.

Chicago Bears need OLB Leonard Floyd to be great - Chicago Sun-Times - Floyd has been a fine player for the Bears, but expectations are enormous for someone who went No. 9 overall in the 2016 draft. They need more than three sacks from him if they’re going to be a ferocious pass rush again.

Chicago Bears Halas Intrigue podcast: Akiem Hicks speaks - Chicago Sun-Times - Patrick Finley, Jason Lieser and Mark Potash talk about Akiem Hicks’ return, the challenge presented by the Cowboys and why the Bears never get sacks.

Chicago Bears injury report: Another starter hurt as CB Prince Amukamara sits out of practice - Chicago Sun-Times - Tight end Ben Braunecker and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel remained in the concussion protocol, eight days after they self-reported the injuries.

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy keeps trick plays locked away - Chicago Sun-Times - ”Once one person knows, then two people know,” coach Matt Nagy said. “I want nobody to know. I just want to know.”

Good, but not great NFL teams lead; Chicago Bears ask ‘what might have been’ - Chicago Sun-Times - The 6-6 Bears have one quality victory this season, a 16-6 win over the Vikings in late September. Chase Daniel replaced an injured Trubisky early in that game.

5 things we heard from Bears coordinators, including Leonard Floyd gutting through the Lions game and preparing Mitch Trubisky for the ‘elite’ Cowboys pressure - Chicago Tribune - The Cowboys defensive front is “elite, elite, elite” when it comes to pressuring the quarterback. The Bears and Mitch Trubisky are bracing themselves for the challenge on Thursday night.

Brad Biggs: Adam Shaheen a Chicago Bears disappointment - Chicago Tribune - Injuries have been a problem for Bears tight end Adam Shaheen. But more troubling is that he never has been a consistent athletic target in the middle of the field for quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

Under the Microscope: Evaluating Montgomery’s Rookie Year Thus Far - Chicago Audible Blog - With the NFL season now heading into Week 14, let’s take a look at how Bears rookie running back David Montgomery has fared so far in 2019.

Is the Bears’ inconsistent run game fixable in 2020? - NBC Sports Chicago - David Montgomery looks like the right running back, but the Bears might not have the right offensive line to run the ball to end 2019 and start 2020.

First and Final Thoughts: What would a win against Dallas actually mean? - NBC Sports Chicago - We’re on to Dallas.

The answer to the Bears’ passing woes may already be hiding in plain sight - NBC Sports Chicago - The Bears are wildly successful in one specific personnel grouping. The problem is that they rarely use it.

Akiem Hicks striving to return to action in Green Bay - ChicagoBears.com - Pro Bowl defensive tackle Akiem Hicks practiced for the second straight day Monday and is hoping to return to game action a week from Sunday when the Bears visit the Packers.

Week 14 Key Matchups: Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys - ChicagoBears.com - When the Bears take on the Cowboys at Soldier Field on Thursday night, keep an eye on these matchups.

Return Of Akiem Hicks Would Be Pivotal Boost For Bears - 670 The Score - After defensive lineman Akiem Hicks returned to practice, the Bears are hopeful he can return Dec. 15.

One Thing is Clear: The NFC North Now Hates Javon Wims - Sports Mockery - Javon Wims hasn’t gotten consistent playing time just yet, but when he does it’s always against the NFC North and they’re not liking that much.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Browns fan jumps into Lake Erie after Steelers loss - CNN - The Cleveland Browns lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers again in the second matchup between the two teams this year. The loss was enough to send one dejected Browns fan to jump into Lake Erie following the loss.

Chargers getting frustrated as they find “every way you can possibly lose” – ProFootballTalk - The Chargers are 4-8 and out of playoff contention, but they can point to just a few plays in a few games and say this season could be much different.

Doug Pederson: Lack of discipline, consistency on me – ProFootballTalk - Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said on Sunday that the team self-destructed in a 37-31 loss to the Dolphins and he assigned blame for that on Monday.

NFL Week 13 takeaways: Ravens good, Raiders bad, Giants ugly - NFL.com - The Sunday after Thanksgiving is always telling in the NFL. This is when the heat intensifies and playoff tickets are punched. With that in mind, Adam Schein provides the good, the bad and the ugly from the first Sunday in December.

Matt Patricia, Jason Garrett among NFL head coaches on the hot seat ahead of Black Monday - The Washington Post - The Cowboys' Jason Garrett, the Lions Matt Patricia and the Jaguars' Doug Marrone are among the coaches most at risk of losing their jobs at season's end.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Matthew Stafford remains on roster ‘out of respect’ for his competitiveness - Pride Of Detroit - Matt Patricia explained why Stafford remains on the roster.

Cowboys @ Bears injury report: Michael Bennett limited, Randall Cobb doesn’t practice with illness - Blogging The Boys - The latest injury update for the Cowboys and the Bills.

IN CASE YOU YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON

Householder's Stock up, stock down: Chicago Bears-Detroit Lions - Windy City Gridiron - Looking back one more time at Thanksgiving to find the good and bad in a come-from-behind win.

Wiltfong: Ryan Pace Approval Rating - Windy City Gridiron - Time for a WCG Poll of the day...

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

THE RULES

Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS

Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert; and Robert Zeglinski’s The Blitz Network

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WCG Contributors: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.